“We need more operations like Malabon: quiet, coordinated, and backed by the rule of law”
THE year 2026 didn’t start with fireworks for everyone.
While most of the country was welcoming the New Year, the Philippine National Police was busy dismantling a ₱1.5-billion smuggling operation in Malabon.
To some, it’s just another headline.
To me, it’s a refreshing sign of where our law enforcement is headed under the steady hand of Acting PNP Chief Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr.
I’ve watched many “major hauls” over the years.
Often, they come wrapped in theatricality and grandstanding.
But what I saw at the Jan. 1 briefing was different. There was no noise—just results.
Beyond “Lucky Breaks”
What struck me most about this Malabon seizure wasn’t just the sheer volume of unregistered tobacco, but how it was caught.
Nartatez didn’t credit a “magic tip” or a stroke of luck.
He credited the basics: steady patrol work, shared intelligence, and real-time coordination.
The cigarettes were intercepted in a cargo facility because patrol units remained alert during a holiday when most of the world was looking the other way.
It’s the kind of unglamorous, consistent work that actually builds a safer country.
By moving beyond ports and traditional checkpoints, the PNP is catching smugglers where they feel safest—in their storage and distribution hubs.
Connecting the Dots
Perhaps the most significant takeaway for me is Nartatez’s refusal to view this as an isolated win.
He has directed a deep dive to see if the Malabon operation links back to a similar massive haul in Batangas City.
This is a crucial shift in strategy.
For too long, our enforcement agencies have played a game of “whack-a-mole,” treating every bust as a standalone case.
By investigating the regional networks behind these goods, Nartatez has signaled the PNP is no longer interested in just the “what”—they are going after the “who” and the “how.”
Why We Should Care
It’s easy to dismiss cigarette smuggling as a victimless crime or a mere paperwork issue. It isn’t. Every billion-peso shipment that bypasses our laws is a direct hit to:
• Government Revenue: Funds that should be building schools and hospitals.
• Legitimate Businesses: Local entrepreneurs who play by the rules and pay their taxes.
• Public Safety: Smuggling networks often fund more dangerous criminal activities.
A Unified Front
Standing alongside the Highway Patrol Group, the Northern Police District, and the Bureau of Customs, Nartatez demonstrated what actual “unity” looks like in the field.
This isn’t just his personal vision; it’s a clear reflection of the enforcement direction set by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and the accountability-driven leadership of DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla.
We don’t need more “tough talk” on crime.
We need more operations like Malabon: quiet, coordinated, and backed by the rule of law.
If this is the tone the PNP is setting for 2026, then we are finally moving away from the “show” and getting down to the business of real security.
(The writer, a doctorate in philosophy degree holder, serves as Chairman Emeritus of four civic oriented organizations: Alyansa ng Bantay sa Kapayapaan at Demokrasya, People’s Alliance for Democracy and Reforms, Liga Independencia Pilipinas, and Filipinos Do Not Yield Movement, where he advocates for truth, stability, and the dignity of the Filipino people.)
